Clock-movement



(No Model.)

A. B. HOTOHKISS.

CLOCK MOVEMENT.

No. 252.668. Patented Jan.24,1882.

I V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHURE. HOTOHKISS, or onnsnmn, CONNECTICUT.

CLOCK-MOVEMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 252,668, dated January 24,1882.

Application tiled May 27, I881. (No model.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR E. Howell- KISS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Uheshire,in thecounty ofNew Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clock-Movements; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, and to letters orfigures ofreferenoe marked thereon,-which form a part of this specification.

This invention is an improvement on the patent of Frederick A. Lane, No. 237,028, dated .Jau uary 25, 1881, for a new and improved clock and it consists principally in substituting for the middle plate used by said Lane a half-plate or shortened plate, which extends from the bottom of the clock only part of the way to the top,

so as to allow the center wheel to be in thesame transverse vertical plane with it, and thus to lessen the amount of space required for the wheels of the train.

It also consists in other peculiarities of construction hereinafter particularly set forth.

In the accompanyingdrawings, Figurel representsaperspective view of myimproved clockmovement and the plates belonging thereto. Fig. 2 represents a vertical cross-section of the same through the center wheel and shortened center-plate or half-plate and Fig. 3 representsavertical section,from front to rear, taken through the center shaft.

In the several figures similar letters ofreference indicate corresponding parts.

A designates the back plate, which serves as a back to the clock-movement, and preferably also as the back of the clock-case. From this plate the pillars a extend through the upper part of a half plate, B, to a front plate, 0. The center shaft, 1), has its hearings in said front plate andback plate. The back plate and intermediate half-plate support the entire clock mechanism, and when they are withdrawn from the case said mechanism comes with them. It may then be readily inspected. This mechanism consists of a mainspring, main wheel, a center pinion, center wheel, the remainder of the usual train ofwheels, and the pendulum-escapement-,'together with the necessary shafts orarbors. Themainspringand main wheel are arranged between the back plate and the intermediate plate or half-plate, while the pendulum and most of the train of wheels are .near the front plate and in front ofthe intermediate plate, or of the place it would occupy if extended to the top of the case.

The foregoing devices operate substantially as in Laues patent, and they are constructed and arranged substantially the same, with the following exceptions, wherein my improvements lie In Lanes patent the intermediate plate is extended from the bottom of the clock quite to the top thereof, and the center shaft passes through it. It is obviousthat the center wheel cannot be in the same transverse vertical plane as this intermediate plate when the latter is thus constructed nor can the said wheel be arranged against either side of said plate, as the friction between the two would then prevent its turning. There is therefore a considerable space within which the center wheel cannot be placed, and which is practically wasted. My intermediate plate or half-plate, B, extends but a short distance above the lower edge of the center wheel, and has a curved recess, 1), in its upper edge, to allow said wheel to turn freely when the two are in the same, or nearly the same, pla ne., I am thus enabled to arrange the said center wheel immediately over the said intermediate plate or half-plate, as shown, and thus to save the space which in Lanes patent is occupied by said center wheel between the intermediate plate and the front plate, and also the space which intervenes between the said wheel and the said intermediate plate. This space may of course be occupied by other wheels of the train, and thus the clock may be made thinner from back to front, and smaller, cheaper, and lighter, which are importantconsiderations in clocks of this sort, whose value lies mainly in their diminutive size and inexpensive manufacture.

The half-plate may of course be more or less in size than an ordinary intermediate or center plate, and it need'not be attached to pillars a nor provided with recess 1); but the size shown is a convenient one, the attachment to the pillars braces the whole clock, and the parts of the plate which extend on each side above the lower part of the recess act as guards for the center wheel. This wheel need not be exactly in the plane of the half-plate, but of course more space will be; saved when it is thus construeted. Instead of the center wheel, another wheel of the train may be made to occupy the space above referred to. This would of course require a slight change in the arrangement of the train. The same general advantage would be gained. I prefer, however, the construction above described.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A clock-movement having a front plate, back plate, and intermediate half-plate, and a wheel arranged substantially in the same vertical transverse plane with said half-plate, the latter aiding to support the mainspring' and main wheel, substantially as set forth.

2. A clock-movementhaving three plates, the actuating mechanism being supported by the intermediate and back plates, and the portion of the train between the center wheel and cscapement being supported by bearings in the front and rear plates, as described.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR E. HOTGHKISS.

Witnesses:

D. R. WRIGHT, JAMES S. THOMPSON. 

